gerald the welshman—giraldus cambrensis-was born, probably in 1147, at manorbier castle in the county of pembroke. His father was a norman noble, william de barri. Who took his mane from the little island of barry off the coast of glamorgan. His mother, angharad, was the daughter of gerald de windsor by his wife, the famous princess nesta, the” helen of wales.” And the daughter of rhys ap tewder mawr, the last independent prince of south wales.